Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

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old dude
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Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by old dude » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:10 pm

I'm getting close to 6 hours sleep most nights now, with AHI numbers virtually always 1.0 or less. Nothing else too remarkable in my charts. I feel pretty good, and usually feel especially good in the mornings. But if I sit down mid-afternoon to try and watch a TV show, there's a good chance I'll nod off and on. Not a real sleep mind you but just a nod off. I realize some would say 6 hours isn't enough sleep, and while it may not be ideal I have good energy as long as I'm moving around.

It occurs to me that I began treatment for A-Flutter almost concurrently with the sleep apnea Dx, and part of the treatment are meds (200mg Metoprolol daily) that slow my HR down. Way down. Before meds my HR would run in the high 80s to early 90s at rest, and now it's usually low 60s down to high 50s. It likely goes somewhat lower when I'm fully relaxed in my recliner watching TV.

So just observing Occam's Razor I'm wondering if the nodding off when fully relaxed might be related to the low HR. Any thoughts?

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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by LSAT » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:47 pm

old dude wrote:I'm getting close to 6 hours sleep most nights now, with AHI numbers virtually always 1.0 or less. Nothing else too remarkable in my charts. I feel pretty good, and usually feel especially good in the mornings. But if I sit down mid-afternoon to try and watch a TV show, there's a good chance I'll nod off and on. Not a real sleep mind you but just a nod off. I realize some would say 6 hours isn't enough sleep, and while it may not be ideal I have good energy as long as I'm moving around.

It occurs to me that I began treatment for A-Flutter almost concurrently with the sleep apnea Dx, and part of the treatment are meds (200mg Metoprolol daily) that slow my HR down. Way down. Before meds my HR would run in the high 80s to early 90s at rest, and now it's usually low 60s down to high 50s. It likely goes somewhat lower when I'm fully relaxed in my recliner watching TV.

So just observing Occam's Razor I'm wondering if the nodding off when fully relaxed might be related to the low HR. Any thoughts?
Hey Dude..... Your story is very similar to mine...the A-Flutter...6 hours sleep....occasional nodding off.....low AHI...I take 100mg Metoprolol.

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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by JDS74 » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:56 pm

For a different problem my doctor tried me with a lower dose of Metoprolol. Same results.

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old dude
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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by old dude » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:57 pm

LSAT wrote:
old dude wrote:I'm getting close to 6 hours sleep most nights now, with AHI numbers virtually always 1.0 or less. Nothing else too remarkable in my charts. I feel pretty good, and usually feel especially good in the mornings. But if I sit down mid-afternoon to try and watch a TV show, there's a good chance I'll nod off and on. Not a real sleep mind you but just a nod off. I realize some would say 6 hours isn't enough sleep, and while it may not be ideal I have good energy as long as I'm moving around.

It occurs to me that I began treatment for A-Flutter almost concurrently with the sleep apnea Dx, and part of the treatment are meds (200mg Metoprolol daily) that slow my HR down. Way down. Before meds my HR would run in the high 80s to early 90s at rest, and now it's usually low 60s down to high 50s. It likely goes somewhat lower when I'm fully relaxed in my recliner watching TV.

So just observing Occam's Razor I'm wondering if the nodding off when fully relaxed might be related to the low HR. Any thoughts?
Hey Dude..... Your story is very similar to mine...the A-Flutter...6 hours sleep....occasional nodding off.....low AHI...I take 100mg Metoprolol.

Small world, huh? I'm not convinced I need that big a dose, but after an initial electronic cardioversion and taking the meds I seem to have stayed in rhythm, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Well, those things and Cpap treatment I should say. I've only been on it for about 2-1/2 years, but without it I doubt I'd be typing this right now.

old dude
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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by old dude » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:58 pm

JDS74 wrote:For a different problem my doctor tried me with a lower dose of Metoprolol. Same results.
So, perhaps it's the Metoprolol then?

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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by Julie » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:04 pm

Most likely.

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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by SewTired » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:36 pm

old dude wrote:
JDS74 wrote:For a different problem my doctor tried me with a lower dose of Metoprolol. Same results.
So, perhaps it's the Metoprolol then?
Could be that and the fact that 6 hours of sleep isnt enough for most people.

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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by Krelvin » Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:33 pm

Last June I was switched to Metoprolol from Atenolol at the same dosage. I had problems sleeping at night that I linked to the Metroprolo and was switched back.

I tend to have a low resting heart rate down to the mid to upper 50's.

I rarely fall asleep due to low activities like watching TV, but get 6.5-7.5 hours of sleep a night.
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Re: Could daytime nodding off be related to low heart rate?

Post by Goofproof » Fri Jul 31, 2015 11:46 pm

Sounds a lot like me too, the first 8 years on XPAP, my sitting watching t.v. in the evening without sleeping was cured. This year not so much, I sleep 6 to 7 hours nightly. I also use a pulse ox, it used to have a study heart pulse readout, I have noticed since the falling asleep after dinner watching t.v. the readout is skipping on about one in four beats, O2 levels stay normal, but I awake with a jerk, that points to a apnea event.

My cardiovascular people don't seem concerned, they say it's ju s t from the heart damage and they expect it. I can relate to your problem. Jim
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